vbl. sb. [f. as prec. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the vb. FORWARD in various senses. Also gerundially, with omission of in.
1635. J. Gore, Well-doing, 17. Like that which Bias calls ἔγκοπὴν προκοπὴν the Backeward forwarding of a cause.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 268. Horse-dung, and Kennel-Water, contribute … to the forwarding of Plants.
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 28 Sept. The people in general know that a peace is forwarding.
1817. Evans’ Parl. Debates, 1381. Sir J. Newport urged the immediate forwarding of the measure.
2. spec. in Bookbinding. The operation of putting a plain cover on a book previously sewn, and otherwise making it fit for the ‘finisher’s’ hands.
1893. E. G. Duff, Early Printed Bks., xii. 193. Even a study of the forwarding of a binding is of great help.
1890. Zaehnsdorf, Hist. Bookbinding, 13. His [Roger Payne’s] backs were firm, and his forwarding excellent; and he introduced a class of finishing that was always in accordance with the character or subject of the book.
3. attrib. as forwarding department, -room; forwarding agent, merchant, one whose business is the receiving and shipment or transmission of goods; forwarding-note (see quot.).
1839. Story, Bailments, Index, Forwarding merchant.
1869. Pall Mall G., 10 Aug., 10. The same building also includes … a telegraph office, and a forwarding department, where remittances are sent from friends of emigrants, and all other miscellaneous letters received and forwarded.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 40. The book now passes from the women to the forwarding room, where several processes occur.
1882. Cassell, Forwarding note (Comm.), a note in which is entered a description of goods or parcels, with the names and addresses of the consignor and consignee, to be sent along with goods, &c., conveyed by a carrier (American).
1892. E. Reeve, Homeward Bound, 327. He employed a forwarding agent.
